Gotenhafen, Korridor & North Atlantic.
From the Beginning - - - to the End - - - 1938 - 1945.
Danzig's Westerplatte War extends around the World;
The March to Hela; the stop after Westerplatte - Gdynia is next :
Westerplatte has its hands full with its Nazi invaders, as everywhere in Poland.
Polish writer, Wiktor Kurowski wrote in 1989, "At the outbreak of war, Brigade Ebenhardt was ready for action; it consisted of two regiments of infantry (Danziger 1 and Danziger 2, of the Labdespolizei (Territorial Plolice) each with about 2.500 strong: an artillery unit, SS Heimwehr Danzig around 2.500 strong, and other formations, such as the SA coastguard unit (SA Danziger Kustenschutz), the Danzig Schupo Szcurity Police, and a battalion of the German Construction Service.
The total strength of a brigade was 12.000 men with 44 field guns, 12 anti-aircraft guns, 48 anti-tank guns, 160 medium machine guns, and 500 light machine guns. Aside from Brigade Eberhardt, several other units were available; ie. the SS Guard Storm Battalion Eimann, consisting of some 500 men, clad in black SS uniforms with white armbands. All of them had been recruited from the Danzig region. Their job was to help the police carry out special duties, and, although this formation was part of the SS - independent of the Wehrmacht - it took part in he siege, as later evidence revealed, and as we also shall see.
"... in an order to Kapitän zur See Gustav Kleikamp ... Generaladmiral Albrecht of German Naval Command East, specified his objectives as follows; to enter Danzig harbor in a most peacefull and dignified manner, not to open fire unless on first, to be decisive and confident, but not to engage in fighting before 'Y-Hour,' and to cooperate with Maj. General Eberhardt."
August 25th saw the S-H, escorted by minesweepers - "Following naval custom and diplomatic, protocal, Kapitän Kleinkamp went ashore and even paid a visit to Poland's Commissioner Chodacki, who, in turn, visited the ship.
. . . .
Danzig Study Group U.S.A.
Danzig Report Nr. 155 - January - February - March - 2012, Page 6.
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Added: 04/03/2012
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